Tank for steam irons



1950 w. E.- ELLINWOOD EI' AL 2,527,409

TANK FOR STEAM IRONS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 31, 1946 FIG.2.

/Nt/EN7" R WILFRED E. ELLINWOOD HENRY EKSTEDT EYW ct. 24, 1950 w. E. ELLINWOOD ET AL 2,527,409

TANK FOR STEAM IRONS File d May 51, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I /AIVEAJ7 'OR WILFRED E. ELLINWOOD HENRY V EKSTEDT B W,

H-r-I-QRN Y Patented Oct. 24, 1950 Wilfred E; Ellinwood, St. Louis, and Henry v. p Ekstedt, Overland, Mo. i

Application May 31, 1946, Serial'No. 673,344

7 Claims.

This invention relates in general to certain new and useful improvements in tanks for steam irons.

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a steam iron tank which is uniquely constructed to minimize splashing of water as the iron is being moved to and fro during use.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a tank for a steam iron so constructed that globules of water condensate and liquid spray cannot become entrained with, and pass outwardly from, the discharge tube with the steam generated in the tank.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a steam iron tank which may be conveniently and economically stamped from sheet metal and welded together in a strong, but lightweight, and inexpensive structure.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a non-splashing steam] iron tank which will not readily become caked up and fouled with deposited incrustations of calciferous matter due to the use of water having appreciable hardness.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a steam iron tank which is externally insulated so that the iron itself is comparatively cool on its external side faces above the sole plate and is, therefore, much safer and much more comfortable for the user.

And with the above and other objects in view, our invention resides in the novel 'features of form, construction, arrangement, and combination of parts presently described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings-- Figure l is a longitudinal sectional-view'of a steam iron constructed in accordance with and embodying the present invention;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional View of a steam iron tank constructed in accordance with and embodying the present invention; Figures 3 and 4 are transverse sectional views taken, respectively, along lines 3-3 and 4-4 of Figurez; Figures 5, 6, and 7 are top plan views of the several partitions incorporated inand forming a part of the steam iron tank of the present invention;

Figure 8 is a longitudinal sectional viewof a modified form of steam iron tank constructed in accordance with and embodying th present 'in% vention; I

Figure 9 is a transverse sectional view taken along line 99 of Figure 8; e Figure 10 is a longitudinal sectional view of a further modified form ofsteam iron tank constructed in accordance with and embodying the present invention; and Y r V Figure 11 is a transverse sectional view taken along line H-ll ofFigure 10. v v v 1 Referring now in more detail and by reference characters to the drawings, which illustrate practical embodiments of, our invention, A designates a steam iron of a typemore fully and completely disclosed in our copending application, Serial No; 644,358, filed January 30, 1946, and includesa handle I, an outer shell 2, a heating element 3, a sole plate 4, a steam eduction fitting 5, and a thermostatic control element 6. Disposed within the outer shell 2 is a .tank Tcomprising a deepdrawn body section 1 flange'dslightly outwardly around its peripheral margin, as at 8, and we1ded to a transversely extending closure member or bottom plate 9, which is provided in the regionpf its center with an upwardly pressed recess in for enclosing the thermostatic control element ,6).

, Rearwardly of the recess, IE3, the bottom is pro vided with a second recess I laligned with a simi-, lar inwardly pressed. recess l2 formed in the top ',wall l3 of the body section I. vThe recesses l I, I2,

are furthermore provided with aligned apertures I 4, l5, having inwardly extending peripheral flanges I1, l8, for ,embracingly receiving a con'- necting tube,!9 which projects at its ends a short distance therethrough and ils rbrazed in place. ',It should be notedin this connection that the out-j ,ward extension of the endsof the tube It and the flangesl'l, I8, uniquely. facilitate the brazing op: eration and insure tight permanent joints at these points. 1

a tapped boss 22 adapted for threadedlyv receiving the steam eduction fitting 5 and being provided with an upwardly extendingco-axial steam eduction tube 23 opening at its upper endjust beneath the top wall of the body section 'l'and'communieating at its lower end through a passage 24 formed in the boss 22-, with the fitting 5.

Disposed within the interior of the tank T in spaced parallel relation to each other, and to the bottom wall 9, are two intermediatepartitions 25, 26, preferably contoured to fit snugly against the interior face of ,the body section v Ah-being suitably bored to pass the tubes l9, 2 l, and 23; Riveted upon the under face of ,the partition 25, and extendin angularly downwardly therefrom, are

two transverse support members 21, 28, provided at their lower extremities with foot-forming flanges 29, 30, for resting abuttingly upon the upper face of the bottom wall 9. Along their lower transverse margins, the support members 21, 28, are cut away, as at 3|, and along their vertical margins terminate a short distance inwardly from the side walls of the body section I to provide areas of intercommunication permitting flow of water lengthwise through the tank T.

Similarly riveted upon the under face of the partition 26 is a pair of support members 32, 33, similar in shape and construction to the support members 21, 28. The partition26, furthermore, is provided with an upwardly and rearwardly bent stabilizing plate 34 flanged over at its upper margin, as at 35, for abutment against the inner face of the top of the body section 1.

. Also riveted upon the upper face of the partition 2.6 in its forward area, and .in the region of its center line, is a U-shaped support member 36 having a horizontal bight section 31 provided with a partition plate 38 having ar'cuate lateral margins adapted to conform to and fit against adjacent portions of the side walls of the top section 1, and further being provided with forward ,and rearwardly presented straight margins which .iarelspaced from opposed portions of the side walls Tof -the top section 1. lhe bightmemb'er 3! and its Tassociated partition .plate 38 are suitably bored. to pass the tubes 2 l, 23.

The partition plates 25, 26, are provided with a plurality of apertures 39, as shown in Figures 16 and 7, for permitting the rapid flow of steam upwardly through the tank T. The partition plate 38, however, is solid and, similarly, the support members 21, 28, '32, 3.3, and 35 are solid exfcept for the clearance recesses 3!, thereby comal ironing position, the partitions 25, 26, the a partition plate .38, and the support members 21, 28, 32, 33, .and 35 will operate to force the water downwardly against the bottom wall 9 without splashing and willprevent particles of water or liquid spray from splashing up against the upper wall of the top section I and accidentally entering the upper end of the steam eduction tube '23 or otherwise becoming entrained in the steam flowing outwardly therethrough.

While stabilizing the liquid contents of the tank T, the partition members 25, 26, are provided with a sufficient number of apertures to allow for the rapid and substantially unimpeded passage of steam upwardly to the upper end of the steam eduction tube 23 and will not'become clogged due to the accumulation of 'calciferous scale and's'imilar deposits.

If desired, a modified form of steam iron tank T may be provided, as shown in Figures 8 and. 9, being substantially similar in all respects except that the partition 26 is provided in its central region with an auxiliary baffie member 40 extending transversely there'across and projecting downwardly and rearwardly to a point approximately midway between the partition 25' and the partition 25' directly therebeneath. Also riveted to the under face of the partition 26' is a downwardly and forwardly extending auxiliary bafile member 4| which projects beneath and is spaced a short distance downwardly from the 4 lower transverse margin of the bailie 40 and projects a short distance therebeyond, being flanged upwardly, as at 42, to provide a somewhat convoluted passageway 43. The auxiliary baffles 40, 4|, assist in controlling the shifting movement of the water in the tank and in the prevention of splashing and liquid entrainment. More specifically, it is believed that these auxiliary bafiles 40, 31 create a sort of vacuum-like flushing action, as a result of the to and fro movement of water during actual ironing operations, similar in nature to the vacuum condition created in the vortex of a whirlpool, which flushing action functions to facilitate the withdrawal or downward.

flow of any liquid which may accidentally become lodged on the upper side of the horizontal partition 26.

If desired, a further modified form of steam iron tank T may be provided, as shown in Figures 10 and 11, being substantially similar in form to the previously described steam iron tanks T and T, except that three spaced parallel partitions 46, 45,. and 46 are provided and are spaced from each other by downwardly inclined support members 41, l? 48, 48' 49, and 49, the latter being formed of somewhat springy material and being bent at such an angle that, when,the partitions '34., 45, and 5 6 are placed within the tank 'I'" during assembly, it is necessary to flex the support members, 41, 41", 48, 48, 49 and 49 slightly and place them under so-called spring tension in installing the bottom member 9. By this .means, the partitions are held tightly in place under spring-like pressure when the tank T" is finally assembled.

It should be understood that changes and modifications in the form, construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts of the steam iron tank may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without departing from the nature .and principle of our invention.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1 ..Aself-contained interior steam tank for a steam iron comprising an entirely closed hollow sheet metal shell having a substantially flat bottom, said bottom having a recess therein adapted to receive a thermostatic control element, a thermostaticcontrol shaft receiving tube extendingupwardly from said recess and opening through the top of said shell, a bolt receiving tube opening through the top and bottom of said shell, and a steam eduction tube communieating with the interior of said shell below the top thereof and opening through the bottom of said shell.

. 2. A self-contained interior steam tank for a steam iron comprising an entirely closed .hollow sheet metal shell having a substantially flat bottom, a plurality of perforated partitions 1ocated in said shell and permanently connected in spaced substantially parallel relation 'to each other and to said bottom wall to forma preassembled partition unit, said bottom having a recess therein adapted to receive a thermostatic control element, a thermostatic control shaft receiving tube extending upwardly from said recess and through said partitions and opening through the top of said shell, a bolt receiving tube opening through the top and bottom of said shell and extending through said partitions, and a steam eduction tube extending through said partitions and communicating 'withthe interior of said shell below the top thereof and opening through the bottom of said shell.

3.'The combination set forth in claim 2 Wherein said recess is located substantially midway of the length of said shell, said bolt receiving tube is located rearwardly of said recess and'said steam eduction tube is located in front thereof.

4. The combination set forth in claim 2 wherein an additional partition plate is located in said shell above the topmost perforated partition in spaced relation thereto and to the top sides and ends of said shelland said control shaft receiving and steam eduction tubes extend through said additional partition plate.

5. A self-contained steam iron tank comprising an entirely closed hollow shell having a sub: stantially flat bottom, aplurality of perforated partitions located in said shell and disposed in spaced substantially parallel relation to each other and to said bottom wall, said bottom having a recess therein adapted to receive a thermostatic control element, a tube extending upwardly from said recess and through said partitions and opening through the top of said shell, a second tube opening through the top and bottom of said shell and extending through said partitions, and a .third tube extending through said partitions and communicating with the interior of said shell adjacent to the top thereof and opening through the bottom of said shell, and two transverse baille plates inclining downwardly toward each other from the topmost partition with their lower marginal portions disposed in closely spaced overlapped relation to provide a passageway therebetween. I

6. A self-contained steam iron tank comprising anentirely closed hollow shell having a sub stantially flat bottom, a plurality of perforated partitions located in said shell and disposed in spaced substantially parallel relation to each other and to said bottom wall, said bottom having a recess therein adapted to receive a thermostatic control element, a tube extending upwardly from said recess and through said partitions and opening through the top of said shell, a second tube opening through the top and bottom of said shell and extending through said partitions, and a third tube extending through said partitions and communicating with the interior of said shell adjacent to the top thereof and opening through the bottom of said shell, said shell having downwardly diverging sides, and resilient members associated with said partitions for holding them apart from one another and from the top and bottom of said shell and for seating them against the diverging sides thereof. I

7. A self-contained steam iron tank comprising an entirely closed hollow shell having a substantially flat bottom,a lurality of perforated partitions located in said shell and disposed in spaced substantially parallel relation to each other and to said bottom wall, said bottom having a recess-therein adapted to receive a thermostatic control element, a tube extending upwardly from said recess and through said partitions and opening through the top of said shell, a second tube opening through the top and bottom of said shell and extending through said partitions, and a third tube extending through said partitions and communicating with the interior of said shell adjacent to the top thereof and opening through the bottom of said shell, and members permanently secured to said perforated partitions for holding them apart from one another and from the top and bottom of said shell.

WILFRED E. ELLIN WOOD. HENRY V. EKSTEDT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

